KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Yordano Ventura has been ejected from Kansas City’s game against Oakland after hitting A’s third baseman Brett Lawrie with what appeared to be a retaliatory pitch.
Lawrie drew the ire of the Royals the previous night when he slid hard and late into Alcides Escobar at second base. Escobar wound up with a sprained left knee in the collision.
Ventura had already been pounded for five runs in the fourth inning when Lawrie stepped to the plate Saturday night. Ventura uncorked a fastball that hit Lawrie on the left elbow, and plate umpire Jim Joyce immediately ejected the hard-throwing right-hander from the game.
Both benches and bullpens emptied for the second straight night. No punches were thrown.
Yohan Pino replaced Ventura, who was cheered as he entered the dugout.